— Rashmi Saikia Aristotle’s belief was the role of the government is to create a virtuous city. That sounds very naive, and I understand why the politically involved would consider that statement to be very theoretical, but not practical, and far removed from reality. Aristotle believed that political leaders have the utmost influence on a community. Political leaders are the guides, the teachers who impart knowledge, and draw the roadmap for a society on how to direct themselves and how to conduct themselves. These leaders set the rules, the standards. They are not really political leaders par se. They are the spiritual powers behind the State, the mentors, the parents that the State needs.
In Assam politicians have to leave a legacy behind by taking the focus of insurgents away from violence, away from profit and gain, and be creating lasting memories of themselves as true, intelligent powers that moved the economy, moved the civilization, and moved the hearts of the people. Aristotle says, “The end [or goal] of politics is the best of ends; and the main concern of politics is to engender a certain character in the citizens and to make them good and disposed to perform noble actions.” A noble action in Assam would be to end violence.
The idea of youth with no work to do is not as rampant in the US as it seems to be in Assam. It is because the demarcation between white collared jobs is not significant in the US. The beginning jobs are usually very menial such as cashier at grocery stores, waiter, car wash personnel, mechanic, and so on. They are able to do this because no one looks down at these jobs. The purpose is simple. Make money, pay bills, be independent financially. This lack of status consciousness immediately makes more jobs available. Eventually many of them work their way through to higher and better ranks. And for those who did not complete their education, the ability to go back to school at old age is a convenience that is a goldmine for those living in western countries. The classrooms are full of people in their thirties, forties and it goes on to the seventies or more. The classroom really should not have age limits.
Reverting back to philosophy, the Aristotelian thought is that politics should create an environment in which people can live ethical, prosperous, and good lives, and this is the correct way to participate in politics. He says in the Nicomachean Ethics: “We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage ... Lawgivers make the citizens good by inculcating good habits in them, and this is the aim of every lawgiver; if he does not succeed in doing that, his legislation is a failure. It is in this that a good constitution differs from a bad one.” Aristotle’s philosophy was a teleological one. He believed that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good...” Aristotle believed that good is human happiness.
Killing another human being is a direct violation of happiness. The one who kills immediately loses any possibility of happiness after having killed a fellow citizen. This is a self-evident truth and requires not much elaboration. I can only imagine the amount of unhappiness that has spread in Assam from all recent killings, irrespective of who committed the crime. We are after all, a society of gentle, softhearted people.
Aristotle defined two types of ends, namely instrumental ends (ends that are a means to something else), and intrinsic ends (ends that are taken up for their own sake). The politically violent activist in Assam may suggest that their end is an instrumental end. They commit acts of violence for the purpose of a higher end. This, in my belief is utter delusion. It is a lack of sophistication to conceive a diplomatic solution. Gandhi, Nehru and others had that diplomatic sophistication, that intellectual power to develop and implement resolutions to massive political issues. This was a result of education, culture, honesty, and a prowess to think critically. They exemplified raw political power. They were true nobility, and not mere frustrated mortals. Such is political power. In remembering these fine politicians, it brings to my mind another Aristotelian quote – “... it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.” Gandhi’s politics was not one swallow or one fine day. It was a lifetime of learning what the ‘good’ is, and building that good in his political behavior. And not just that, but then teaching it back to the community because he was in a position to do so. That was his lasting legacy. It was a very practical implementation of a philosophy that inspired millions in its honesty, while memories of those without his moral strength crumbled around him. In Gandhi’s own words: “Use truth as your anvil, nonviolence as your hammer, and anything that does not stand the test when it is brought to the anvil of truth and hammered with nonviolence, reject it.”
In Politics, Aristotle’s famous words are “The State is a creature of nature, and man by nature is a political animal.” The relationship between humanity and the State is a very close one. The need for the State to nurture and build a virtuous society is vital. Strange as it may sound, Aristotle repeatedly said that the State exists for society’s moral and intellectual development. The State existed, in his opinion for “life”, and to be more precise, for the “good and noble life” of its citizens. He also said that this good life is dependent on how the rulers behave.
He said – “That in the end, people will always criticise the State unless their conditions of living within it are such that they can achieve happiness in the form of what they consider the good life.” After the smaller forces have done the harm in Assam, it will invariably be the larger force, the government and the politicians, who will be blamed for all trauma that occurred.
There are many honest men and women in the Assamese political scene. There are many intelligent men and women. The future depends on the mental and intellectual strength of these men and women, and it depends on their sacrifice and ability to strongly step forward.
(The article is based on a discussion held at Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia Forum, USA)
SOURCE: assam tribune editorial 06.09.08
In Assam politicians have to leave a legacy behind by taking the focus of insurgents away from violence, away from profit and gain, and be creating lasting memories of themselves as true, intelligent powers that moved the economy, moved the civilization, and moved the hearts of the people. Aristotle says, “The end [or goal] of politics is the best of ends; and the main concern of politics is to engender a certain character in the citizens and to make them good and disposed to perform noble actions.” A noble action in Assam would be to end violence.
The idea of youth with no work to do is not as rampant in the US as it seems to be in Assam. It is because the demarcation between white collared jobs is not significant in the US. The beginning jobs are usually very menial such as cashier at grocery stores, waiter, car wash personnel, mechanic, and so on. They are able to do this because no one looks down at these jobs. The purpose is simple. Make money, pay bills, be independent financially. This lack of status consciousness immediately makes more jobs available. Eventually many of them work their way through to higher and better ranks. And for those who did not complete their education, the ability to go back to school at old age is a convenience that is a goldmine for those living in western countries. The classrooms are full of people in their thirties, forties and it goes on to the seventies or more. The classroom really should not have age limits.
Reverting back to philosophy, the Aristotelian thought is that politics should create an environment in which people can live ethical, prosperous, and good lives, and this is the correct way to participate in politics. He says in the Nicomachean Ethics: “We become just by the practice of just actions, self-controlled by exercising self-control, and courageous by performing acts of courage ... Lawgivers make the citizens good by inculcating good habits in them, and this is the aim of every lawgiver; if he does not succeed in doing that, his legislation is a failure. It is in this that a good constitution differs from a bad one.” Aristotle’s philosophy was a teleological one. He believed that “every art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good...” Aristotle believed that good is human happiness.
Killing another human being is a direct violation of happiness. The one who kills immediately loses any possibility of happiness after having killed a fellow citizen. This is a self-evident truth and requires not much elaboration. I can only imagine the amount of unhappiness that has spread in Assam from all recent killings, irrespective of who committed the crime. We are after all, a society of gentle, softhearted people.
Aristotle defined two types of ends, namely instrumental ends (ends that are a means to something else), and intrinsic ends (ends that are taken up for their own sake). The politically violent activist in Assam may suggest that their end is an instrumental end. They commit acts of violence for the purpose of a higher end. This, in my belief is utter delusion. It is a lack of sophistication to conceive a diplomatic solution. Gandhi, Nehru and others had that diplomatic sophistication, that intellectual power to develop and implement resolutions to massive political issues. This was a result of education, culture, honesty, and a prowess to think critically. They exemplified raw political power. They were true nobility, and not mere frustrated mortals. Such is political power. In remembering these fine politicians, it brings to my mind another Aristotelian quote – “... it is not one swallow or one fine day that makes a spring, so it is not one day or a short time that makes a man blessed and happy.” Gandhi’s politics was not one swallow or one fine day. It was a lifetime of learning what the ‘good’ is, and building that good in his political behavior. And not just that, but then teaching it back to the community because he was in a position to do so. That was his lasting legacy. It was a very practical implementation of a philosophy that inspired millions in its honesty, while memories of those without his moral strength crumbled around him. In Gandhi’s own words: “Use truth as your anvil, nonviolence as your hammer, and anything that does not stand the test when it is brought to the anvil of truth and hammered with nonviolence, reject it.”
In Politics, Aristotle’s famous words are “The State is a creature of nature, and man by nature is a political animal.” The relationship between humanity and the State is a very close one. The need for the State to nurture and build a virtuous society is vital. Strange as it may sound, Aristotle repeatedly said that the State exists for society’s moral and intellectual development. The State existed, in his opinion for “life”, and to be more precise, for the “good and noble life” of its citizens. He also said that this good life is dependent on how the rulers behave.
He said – “That in the end, people will always criticise the State unless their conditions of living within it are such that they can achieve happiness in the form of what they consider the good life.” After the smaller forces have done the harm in Assam, it will invariably be the larger force, the government and the politicians, who will be blamed for all trauma that occurred.
There are many honest men and women in the Assamese political scene. There are many intelligent men and women. The future depends on the mental and intellectual strength of these men and women, and it depends on their sacrifice and ability to strongly step forward.
(The article is based on a discussion held at Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia Forum, USA)
SOURCE: assam tribune editorial 06.09.08
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